Pivot Strategies

Sharing this post from our founder and CEO, Stacia Nelson: As I look back on my 33 year old self who started a company, there is a lot I wish I could tell her. I wish I could tell her not to worry so much, to be more confident, to get quiet and listen more. To not fear failure and instead see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Over the past 9.5 years of leading Pivot Strategies, there have been many ups and downs. This last year, in particular, tested me in new ways that at times, caused me to second guess myself. However, I know that going through challenges is ultimately shaping me into a better person and leader. It is in these hard moments that we further define character and who we are meant to become. Leading a business is a significant responsibility. Becoming a mother again is also a big responsibility. Both are very demanding. Both are time well spent. At times, I struggled (and still do) to do both well. I’m thankful for the colleagues around me who remained steadfast when we faced these headwinds and for new colleagues and supporters who have created new energy and inspired positive momentum. In the midst of this, I had an opportunity to write about being an entrepreneur and a mother. I thought long and hard about this. Do I really want to encourage others to follow this path? It’s a rollercoaster and can be very hard. What I landed on is a resounding yes. Despite this year being a challenge, the bigger picture is that this is a deeply worthwhile endeavor - to create something and pave your own way. To learn and grow in ways not otherwise possible. My hope in writing this is more people, especially parents, will see the opportunity and that they ALREADY embody everything they need to begin. I have found that during those moment of uncertainly and fear, being rooted in faith, perseverance and an openness has allowed me to be my best self and embrace the lessons life is trying to teach. It takes much the same mindset to stay the course as an entrepreneur as it does as a parent. I wrote this in hopes more parents who may feel the timing is impossible, will see the opportunity to raise a family while starting or leading a company. Thank you to Allison Kaplan and Twin Cities Business for the opportunity to share this perspective in the Oct/Nov issue. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gmcu5ajn

Need a speaker or support on AI? Pivot Strategies has experienced communicators working with executives across different industries and can provide insights, support and ideas.

This month we're shining the spotlight on Senior Communications Consultant Ramona Richards as she reflects on her experience with Pivot. We're so thrilled you chose to share your talents with our team, Ramona! 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁? With a bachelor’s degree in marketing, I found it challenging to find marketing roles with no work experience after I graduated from college, so I started my career as an administrative assistant for a large energy company. I knew it would be a great way to get my foot in the door and start building my technical skills, while also developing transferable skills. I was then promoted to a customer service representative and that led to a role as a customer service manager with 12 direct reports. I loved the camaraderie and mentoring aspects of leading a team, while also building my writing skills by creating training guides, operating manuals, contracts, and sales scripts, among other fun writing projects. I gradually worked my way into marketing and communications roles with another energy company and I am proud to say that I have over two decades of communications experience working in the energy, financial services, and professional services industries. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁? My favorite aspect is the diversity of working on different projects with amazing clients. I enjoyed working in corporate communications as an internal employee change communicator, but I was starting to become complacent in my role. I love change; change allows me to grow, become better at what I do, and stretch myself outside of my comfort zone to continue learning. As a Communications Consultant at Pivot, I’ve had the privilege of working on a variety of different projects that include developing strategies and deliverables for an SAP ERP implementation, HR transformation, annual benefits and well-being program development, global medical manufacturing intranet site, and the list goes on, for many Fortune 500 Global companies. In addition to the variety of projects and incredible client relationships, I have amazing Pivot colleagues who are always available for thought generation and are eager to share their learnings, best practices and tools. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲? I love having our adult children over for dinner to play games, shoot some pool and sing karaoke. I am a true Midwesterner and having lived in Ohio my entire life, I take advantage of spring, summer and fall by being outdoors, hiking in nature, boating with friends, touring Columbus on my husband’s Harley Davidson Street Glide to check out the endless dining and entertainment options, or cruising the town in our 1962 almond beige Corvette, which my husband inherited from his father.

🎉 We're excited to announce that Brendan Keenan ACMA CGMA has joined us as our VP of Finance! He is an accomplished senior finance professional known for his dynamic leadership and financial expertise. Brendan has a strong focus on managing budgets, forecasting and record-keeping to support informed decision making. When he's not in the office, you might spot him out for a run or spending time with his family. A native of London, Brendan is also a soccer fanatic, following his favorite football clubs back home in the UK. More about Brendan on our website 👇 https://lnkd.in/gfazXivY

🥪 The Pivot team recently was treated to a Lunch & Learn with our Communications Consultant Lauren Fisher. She shared strategies and advice with colleagues for working with clients on improving the content of their knowledge bases. Lauren reached into her archive of Office GIFs to highlight a typical experience users often encounter with a neglected knowledge base: 👎 Outdated or hard to find articles 👎 Content not written for the end user 👎 Difficult to read layouts So where do you begin? Lauren starts by asking herself "What does good look like?" Once she can answer that question, the work begins. 👍 Review current content and determine what works and what doesn't 👍 Repurpose when you can, rewrite when you can't 👍 Review drafts, upload approved content and track progress along the way Lunch & Learns are just one way we enable our consultants to share their passion for their projects and their craft (and put that GIF collection to good use). 👏 Thanks for sharing, Lauren!

🎉 We're so glad to welcome Katie Koranda as a Communications Consultant to our team! She has been with us for a couple of months and has quickly proven herself to be a talented communicator with a creative eye for visual storytelling. Whether working with our clients or collaborating internally with the Pivot Marketing Team on a photo shoot, she approaches her work with attention to detail and care. Outside the office, Katie is passionate about helping others. You will often find her at Juniper House, her spiritual direction space, where she specializes in helping people experiencing grief and loss. More about Katie on our website 👇 https://lnkd.in/gqwr8DHn

🎉 We're excited to announce the latest addition to the Pivot team - Patrick Leeney, our new Senior Business Development Representative! With his extensive experience and a proven track record of fostering strong long-term relationships, Patrick brings a wealth of sales expertise to Pivot. Recognize that voice? Outside the office, he is the announcer for the Burnsville-Minnesota Valley Figure Skating Club and the District 196 Figure Skating Team. Go Icettes! More about Patrick on our website 👇 https://lnkd.in/g3tkJ6nG

Have you read McLean & Company's 2024 HR Trends Report? If not, don't worry Pivot Client Lead John Nielson has you covered. John gives you his key takeaways and provides three ideas for quick wins when it comes to deciding what priorities to focus on: 1️⃣ Supporting corporate values among project teams 2️⃣ Provide clarity about long-term career paths for FTEs who join short-term projects 3️⃣ Be highly visible as a support partner throughout the project change journey Want to keep the conversation going? Join John and other HR professionals in Minneapolis at the next Leading Edge Human Resource Network (LEHRN) event to discuss insights and strategic opportunities like this next week on Oct. 3. These are likely hot topics at the HR Technology Conference & Exposition show this week in Las Vegas. If you're attending, we're curious to hear your thoughts on the keynotes and presentations. Let us know in the comments. 👇 #HR #HCM #HRtechnology #HRtransformation #HRleadership #employeeexperience #HRinsights

🎉 We're delighted to welcome Ashlee Hilzendeger to the Pivot team as our new Executive Assistant! Ashlee brings a wealth of experience in supporting executive teams and a knack for event coordination that will undoubtedly elevate our office operations. When she's not keeping things running smoothly at Pivot, she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew, all things health and fitness, and planning her next travel adventure. We can't wait to see the fresh ideas and energy you're going to bring! More about Ashlee on our website 👇 https://lnkd.in/gg3RrrvC

You know your team is stacked with talent and does valuable work, but does the rest of your organization? A question we often hear is "𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙄 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢’𝙨 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚?" Pivot's Communications Consultant Lauren Fisher recommends starting with a purpose statement. In her latest post on the Pivot blog, Lauren guides you through how to effectively share what your team does and why you do it. Using a purpose statement to describe your team's impact can help you: • Gain visibility • Create strategic connections • Secure funding For more insights and guidance on how you can build your purpose statement, check out Lauren's post. 👇